PRESENCE OF CD3(-2(LOW) LYMPHOCYTES UNDERGOING APOPTOSIS AND ACTIVATED MACROPHAGES IN LYMPH-NODES OF HIV-1(+) PATIENTS()CD8(+)BCL)

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus 1 causes profound changes in the lymph nodes of infected patients. In particular, large numbers of CD8(+)CD45RO(+) T cells infiltrate both the paracortex and the germ inal centers. These cells contained the cytotoxic granule-associated p rotein TIA-1 but showed no detectable levels of perforin and shared th e same characteristics of the expanded, activated, short-lived CD8(+) population found during acute viral infections. These cells expressed low levels of Bcl-2 and are likely to be short-lived in vivo as eviden ced by the direct observation of CD8(+) apoptotic cells in the paracor tical areas of the infected nodes. Changes in the paracortical nonlymp hoid populations were also seen. There were reactive changes ill the b lood vessels, and the macrophage population was expanded and activated . Furthermore, apoptotic bodies were seen in the cytoplasm of the acti vated CD68(+)RFD-7(+)RFD-1(+) macrophages pointing to the phagocytic c apacity of these cells and their role in the clearance of the apoptoti c cells from the tissues. These observations suggest that the persista nce of CD8(+) population ill human immunodeficiency virus I infection is not a result of the presence of an abnormal CD8(+) population but r ather a result of an inappropriate over-stimulation of the CD8(+) cell s.